Participatory Carbon Monitoring:
Manual for Local People
Bao Huy, Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Benktesh D. Sharma,
Nguyen Vinh Quang
August 2013


Acknowledgements

This manual is an output of the project ‘Delivering Multiple Benefits from
REDD+ in Southeast Asia’ (MB-REDD), implemented by SNV Netherlands
Development Organisation. The MB-REDD project is part of the International
Climate Initiative. The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature
Conservation and Nuclear Safety supports this initiative on the basis of a
decision adopted by the German Bundestag.
The authors would like to express their sincere thanks to those providing the
comments and inputs that made the manual possible: Mr Steven Swan (SNV)
and colleagues from the Department of Forest Resources & Environment
Management (FREM), University of Tay Nguyen (Vietnam), including Dr Vo
Hung, Dr Cao Thi Ly, Mr Nguyen Duc Dinh, Mr Nguyen Cong Tai Anh, Mr
Pham Doan Phu Quoc, Mr Nguyen The Hien and Mr Pham Tuan Anh. Special
thanks are extended to Mr Nguyen Anh Ha and Mr Nguyen Duc Luan - the
painters - for providing illustrations for the manual.
The authors would also like to thank leaders, technical staff and local people
in Lam Dong province who supported the testing and provided valuable
comments on the manual.
Authors:
Bao Huy, PhD
Professor of Forest Sciences at the University of Tay Nguyen, Buon Ma Thuot,
Vietnam
Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, PhD

Lecturer at the University of Tay Nguyen, Buon Ma Thuot, Vietnam
Benkesh D. Sharma, PhD
Participatory Forest Monitoring (PFM) Advisor, SNV Netherlands Development
Organisation, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Nguyen Vinh Quang, PhD
REDD+ Advisor, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, Ho Chi Minh
City, Vietnam

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Table of Contents

Page
1 Introduction to participatory carbon monitoring (pcm)..............................................4
2 Parameters measured in participatory carbon monitoring (pcm)..............................5
3 Monitoring the change in forest area and forest status..............................................6
4 Locate sample plot...................................................................................................10
5 Set up permanent sample plots...............................................................................14
6 Measure within sample plot/sub-plot........................................................................21
Appendix I: Field Forms.................................................................................................26
Appendix II. Tools and equipment needed for PCM/PFM for a technical group............30
Appendix III. Slope correction factors.............................................................................31
List of Figures
Figure 1. Carbon sinks in the forest ................................................................................5
Figure 2. Necessary tools and materials for PCM activity ...............................................6
Figure 3. Locating position of a random plot by using GPS ..........................................13
Figure 4. Layout of circular nested plot with four concentric sub-plots ..........................15

Figure 5. Measure diameter class according to radius of sample plot ..........................15
Figure 6. Making knots of different colours corresponding to radius of concentric
sub-plot................................................................................................ 17
Figure 7. Compass and Clinometer Figure ...................................................................18
Figure 8. Obtaining slope using clinometer ...................................................................18
Figure 9. North-east section of plot ...............................................................................19
Figure 10. South-east section of plot .............................................................................20
Figure 11. South-west section of plot ............................................................................20
Figure 12. North-west section of plot .............................................................................20
Figure 13. Measuring DBH tree of irregular stems or trees on slope ............................25

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1

Introduction to participatory carbon
monitoring (PCM)
The implementation of incentive based forestry programs such as Payment for Ecosystem
Services (PES); Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+);
and forestland allocation, management and protection under commitment contract with
households, communities and forest owners needs a monitoring system to quantify the
change in forest biomass and carbon for allocating incentives based on performance.
The monitoring system must involve local households and forest owners to ensure that
local stakeholders actively participate in forest management and assist in gathering or
providing qualitative and quantitative information on the forests allocated to them or
managed under the contract with the forest owner. The participating households may receive
a direct payment for labour invested during monitoring as well as other benefits such as

payment, goods or services that accrue from the emissions reductions or emission removals
achieved through the incentive based forestry activities such as from REDD+. A monitoring
system that involves stakeholders in various steps of monitoring of forest carbon is called
participatory carbon monitoring (PCM).
In order for local households and communities to undertake monitoring activities, the
monitoring method must be simple and suitable for community and forest owner alike.
Local stakeholders must be able to implement the monitoring activities with support
of forestry staff to produce reliable data that meets the national and international
expectations as well as quality standards.
This PCM manual,
Manual for Local
People, is one of
the three individual
manuals designed to
facilitate stakeholders’
participation in carbon
monitoring and is
designed for use by
local households
and communities
for collecting and
monitoring field data.
In this manual, a
quick review of forest
parameters, i.e. carbon
pools measured in the
field using PCM, is
covered.
This manual provides detailed step-wise procedures to measure changes in the forest
area, forest status and forest carbon in the field using existing forest maps, the GPS and

predetermined plot locations. The Manual for Local Technical Staff is for use by local
forestry staff for designing and implementing PCM activities in the field and analysing
PCM data. A third in the series, the Manual for Field Reference, is to be used in the field
for quick reference.

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Parameters measured in participatory
carbon monitoring (PCM)

2

• Five forest carbon1 pools can be measured using PCM (Figure 1). These are:






i.above-ground
ii.below-ground
iii.litter
iv. dead wood
v.soil.

Figure 1. Carbon sinks in the forest
•PCM based monitoring of change in forest carbon includes the following two

primary activities:


- Measuring changes in the forest area and forest status



- Measuring forest carbon pools and other attributes in sample plots,

This manual provides guidelines for measuring changes in forest area and forest
status as well as for measuring forest attributes and carbon pools in forest.
However, the scope of this manual is limited to the measurement of above-ground
pools i.e. manual does not include guidelines for measuring below-ground, dead
wood, litter and soil pools.

1An additional carbon pool, wood product (HWP), is not measured in the forest and therefore
related procedures are not included in this manual.

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Monitoring the change in forest area
and forest status

3

Figure 2. Necessary tools and materials for PCM activity


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If the forest boundary or forest status is found to be different from that which is indicated
on the forest map, the forest boundary must be delineated using the GPS tracking
function. Upon delineating the boundary, update the boundary and forest status
information.
Expected outcome:
• Forest boundaries demarcated, changed area quantified and map prepared
•Status of forest change (e.g. past forest exploitation resulted in change of status
from average to poor) indicated and deforestation rate in the forest management unit
quantified
•Any change in area, boundary or status over a period (annual to period) recorded.
Materials required:
• Forest map showing the boundaries of forest owners
• GPS2 for delineating forest boundary of forest owners and estimating forest area
• Suunto clinometer and compass
• Digital or other camera (optional)
• Data sheets to record forest area and status change (Form 1)

2

The illustration contained in this manual is based on GPS 60CSx. For other model of GPS, refer to user’s manual.

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Procedure:
Step 1: Boundary delineation using GPS 60CSx
• Power on and press Menu twice to access Tracks, then press Enter
• Press Clear button to delete all old tracks
•Press Menu and select Area Calculation; press Enter two times to start track function
• Walk around the area while the GPS is still on
• When measurement is complete, press Enter twice to end the tracking
• Save and name the result, then press OK to finish the area delineation
•If a digital camera is available, take few pictures of the area. The name of the picture files
must be similar to the name of the track for easy identification.

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Make sure that the GPS is turned on while track function is active. Turn off the GPS upon
completion of delineation of one area or forest parcel. If the GPS is on and track mode is
active while moving to next forest parcel, the delineated areas could get connected together
in the map, making the editing process time consuming and cumbersome.
Technical staff must lead the team and instruct local people about using the GPS. When
local people feel comfortable about using the GPS, local people can lead this task.
Step 2: Record forest area change
Use Form 1 (see Appendix) to record the following information on forest area change in the
field:
•Location, forest owners, date, time and person or team leader recording data leader
• VN2000 coordinates (X/Y) in four corners of the forest
• Description of changes and underlying causes.


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4

Locate sample plot

The random sample plots are shown on the map. The location of plots is pre-installed in the
GPS by a technician. The locations of plots are identified in the forest.
Expected outcome:
•The random permanent plots for collecting data on forest biomass and carbon are
located in the forest and the centre of the plot is marked.
Materials required:
• Map of location of random sample plots
• Suunto clinometer and compass
• GPS with coordinates of random sample plots
• Sheet with recorded code and coordinates of sample plots
• Iron board for placing identification tags for plot and coordinates of sample plots
• Hammer and nails for affixing tree tags
• Permanent paint to mark identification tags on sample plots
• Digital camera (optional).

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Procedure:

• Press Find, then press Enter to access Waypoint
• From the list of plots, select the correct plot to be sampled
• Press Goto and select Off road
•Walk to the destination shown on the GPS. The GPS will sound an alarm when the
destination plot is reached
•The coordinates of the centre of the defined plot should be checked on the GPS and on
the map
•If a camera is available, take a picture of the GPS while the GPS is showing the
coordinate position
• End Goto function by pressing Menu and then selecting Stop Navigation
•At the centre of permanent sample plots, place the plot marker i.e. concrete or wooden
pillar, and affix an iron board
•Write the identification number of sample plots and coordinates (i.e. VN2000
coordinates) directly on the iron board with permanent paint or marker
•The permanent marker on the field will be useful for locating plots for repeated
measurements
•Take a picture of the plot centre with plot marker and iron board with plot information
clearly visible.

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Figure 3. Locating position of a random plot by using GPS


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5

Set up permanent sample plots

The shape of the plots can be rectangular, square or circular. In this document, circular
sample plots are recommended for use, as they are relatively easy to establish in the field.
Additionally, a plot is convenient for household and the community in locating plots in the
field. Within the sample plot, trees of different sizes are measured in different sized subplots: larger trees are measured in larger sub-plots and smaller trees are measured in
smaller sub-plots.
Expected outcome:
• Nested circular plots are established in the field.

Materials required:
• Suunto clinometer
•Four ropes with a range of coloured knots at specified intervals equivalent to the radius
of the sub-plots
• Form for additional distances at different radius for plots located on slope
• Digital camera (optional).

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Procedure:
5.1

Design circular sample and sub-plot for different forest types:

Nested circular plot consisting of four concentric circles or sub-plots are used. Large trees
are measured in larger circular plots while small trees are measured in smaller circular plots.
The plot design also varies by forest types.
• For evergreen, semi-deciduous, dipterocarp, and pine forest:

•Sub-plot 1: radius 1 m, area 3.64 m2,
measure regeneration with DBH < 6 cm and
H > 1.3 m
•Sub-plot 2: radius 5.64 m, area 100 m2,
measure tree 6 cm ≤ DBH < 22 cm or
bamboo
•Sub-plot 3: radius 12.62 m, area 500 m2,
measure tree 22 cm ≤ DBH < 42 cm
•Sub-plot 4: Radius 17.84 m, area 1000 m2 to
measure tree ≥ 42 cm DBH
Figure 4. Layout of circular nested plot with four concentric sub-plots

Figure 5. Measure diameter class according to radius of sample plot

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• For bamboo forest, the size of sample plot is 100 m2


•For mixed woody – bamboo forest, measure trees as in the case of evergreen forest in
four concentric sub-plots and measure bamboo only in sub-plot 2

•For plantation forest, the maximum diameter in plantation forest rarely exceeds 42 cm.
Therefore, the measurement of the tree is conducted in sub-plot 3 i.e. in 500 m2 circular
plot with a radius of 12.62 m.

Within 1m radius sub-plot (green), measure all trees with DBH ≥ 6 cm and count

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regeneration trees with DBH < 6 cm and H ≥ 1.3 m; within 1 m - 5.54 m radius sub-plot
(yellow), measure all trees with DBH ≥ 6 cm; within 5.64 m - 12.62 m radius sub-plot (blue),
measures trees with DBH ≥ 22 cm; and within 12.62 m - 17.84 m radius sub-plot (red),
measure trees DBH ≥ 42 cm (Figure 5).
5.2

Establish circular plot and sub-plots in the forest:

Prepare a rope with several knots. Use different colours for individual knots. Put knots
at intervals equivalent to the radius of the sub-plots. For example, make a green knot
at 1 m, a yellow knot 5.64 m, blue knot at 12.62 m and a red knot at 17.84 m (Error!
Reference source not found. Figure). An additional rope may be needed for plots located
on slopes. The length of rope should be about 30 m. Four ropes with colour knots need to
be prepared. On each rope, at each colour knot add another same coloured knot that is
movable along the rope to adjust for the radius of sub-plots on slope.


Figure 6. Making knots of different colours corresponding to radius of concentric sub-plot
•Measure slope of the ground every time the rope is laid out on the ground along the plot
radius (eight times) using the clinometer (Figure ).
•Ask one field crew member to stand on the slope. With the clinometer, aim at the head
of the person standing above or below the slope to create the line of sight (Figure ).
The line of sight must be parallel to the slope surface. The indicator on the left of the
clinometer shows the slope angle, which must be recorded.
•A table with slope corrected horizontal distances can be taken to the field (see Appendix).
The knots representing the radius for the plot must be corrected. For example, if a plot
is located at slope of 20 degrees, then using the slope corrected distance the green knot
should be placed at 1.06 m, yellow knot at 6 m, blue knot at 13.43 m and red knot at
placed at 18.98 m. Use linear tape to adjust the position of the knots in the field.

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Figure 7. Compass and Clinometer

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Figure 8. Obtaining slope using clinometer

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Sheet of slope correction factors:


•First, stretch one rope from the centre
towards the north. Stretch another rope
to the east. Stretch a third rope at 45˚ N
between the first and second ropes. As a
result, two segments are established from
north to east. Measurement is carried
out from the left to the right segment (i.e.
clock-wise) and from the centre towards
the sub-plot radius indicated by the
coloured knots.

Figure 9. North-east section of plot

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•Second, the north and east ropes are fixed
while the rope that was in between is moved
to the south (opposite to north). A fourth
rope is stretched in between south and east.
Two segments are created in the south east.
Measurement is carried out from the left to the
right segment and from the centre towards the
sub-plot radius.
Figure 10. South-east section of plot

•Third, the north and south ropes are fixed while
the rope in the east is moved to the west. The

rope that was between east and south is moved
in between south and west. Measurement is
carried out from the left to the right segment and
from the centre towards the sub-plot radius.

Figure 11. South-west section of plot
•Finally, the ropes in the north and west are fixed
while another rope is placed between west and
north. Measurement is carried out from the left
to the right segment and from the centre towards
sub-plot radius.
•At the four directions of north, east, south and
west, red wooden pillars are positioned.

Figure 12. North-west section of plot

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Measure within sample plot/sub-plot

6

In each sample plot, measure tree and other information.
Expected outcome: Validated data about trees and bamboo and forest resources.
Materials required:



• Diameter measurement tape (i.e. D tape)



• Chalk, marker, or paint for making on the tree



• Iron board or tree tag for marking trees

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• Hammer and nails to affix tree tag



• Paint to mark sign of sample plots



• Spreadsheet for recording inventory factor

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• Digital camera for taking picture (optional).

Procedure:
Measurement in sample plot to estimate forest biomass and carbon:
•For woody tree, identify species, measure DHB if trees DBH is greater than 6 cm. For
trees with DBH < 6 cm and height > 1.3 m, count the number within the sub-plot 1

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• Use tree tags to mark the trees



•Bamboo is measured in a 5.64 m radius plot. Age and individual DBH are measured.
In the case of certain species of bamboo, such as neohouzeaua, the number of trees,
average DBH and average height must also be estimated



•Use Figure 13 to determine the position of DBH on tree during DBH measurement for
irregular stems or for trees standing on slopes




•If a tree falls on the plot boundary and over 50% of the stem is inside the plot,
consider that tree to fall inside the plot. Otherwise, exclude boundary tree



• Take pictures of trees and crews measuring trees. Name picture files beginning
with the plot name. For example, if plot id is 104, then name of picture can be
“104_NorthWest”.

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Figure 13. Measuring DBH tree of irregular stems or trees on slope

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